Duchesse Hélène d'Orléans
PearDuchesse Hélène d'Orléans
Origin/History
Duchesse Hélène d'Orléans originated from a seed bed made at Louvain, Belgium, in 1839 by Van Mons, and first fruited in 1847 (Hedrick). Downing, citing the Album Pomologie, likewise places the first description in 1847. The variety has been confused by some with Marechal de la Cour and also with Duchesse d'Orleans, but is found, more by its growth of wood than by its fruit, to be distinct from both (Downing). Also known in the literature as Princess Helen d'Orleans and Reine de Vierge.
Tree
A vigorous grower, with long-jointed, stout wood. The young shoots are a rich warm reddish-brown color, with scattered, nearly oblong, light gray specks. Buds sharp-pointed (Downing).
Fruit
Size
Sources conflict: Downing describes the fruit as large; Hedrick describes it as medium.
Form
Downing describes the form as varying from oblong pyriform to oblong obovate pyriform. Hedrick describes the fruit as ovate and always somewhat distorted, one side being longer than the other.
Stem
Medium or rather stout, a little inclined, set in a small cavity, sometimes with a lip (Downing).
Cavity
Small, sometimes lipped at the stem insertion (Downing).
Calyx
Open, or partly so; segments short, erect (Downing).
Basin
Small, corrugated (Downing).
Skin
Sources give complementary but partially differing accounts. Downing describes the skin as whitish yellow, considerably netted and patched with russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots. Hedrick describes it as yellowish-green, dotted and mottled with gray and russet, carmined on the cheek next the sun.
Flesh and Flavor
Both sources agree the flesh is white and melting. Downing describes it as juicy, sweet, pleasant, and a little vinous, rating it good to very good. Hedrick describes it as very juicy, acidulous, and sugary, with good flavor, rating it first quality.
Season
September to October (Downing); September (Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Thomas (1903) lists Duchesse Hélène d'Orléans at page 469 without accompanying description. Hedrick cites Leroy, Dictionnaire de Pomologie 2:109, with figure, 1869, as a reference.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Duchesse Helene d'Orleans.
Princess Helen d'Orleans. Reine de Vierge.
According to the Album Pomologie this variety was first described in 1847. It has been, by some, confounded with Marechal de la Cour, and also with Duchesse d'Orleans, but is found by its growth of wood, more than by its fruit, to be distinct. Tree a vigorous grower, with long jointed, stout wood, the young shoots of a rich warm reddish brown color, with scattered, nearly oblong, light gray specks. Buds sharp pointed.
Fruit large, varying from oblong pyriform to oblong obovate pyriform, whitish yellow, considerably netted and patched with russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots. Stalk medium or rather stout, a little inclined, set in a small cavity, sometimes with a lip. Calyx open, or partly so. Segments short, erect. Basin small, corrugated. Flesh white, juicy, melting, sweet, pleasant, a little vinous. Good to very good. September, October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Héléne d'Orleans, p. 469.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Duchesse Hélène d'Orléans.
i. Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:109, fig. 1869.
From a seed bed made at Louvain, Bel., in 1839 by Van Mons; it first fruited in 1847. Fruit medium, ovate, always somewhat distorted, one side being longer than the other, yellowish-green, dotted and mottled with gray and russet, carmined on the cheek next the sun; flesh white, melting, very juicy, acidulous, sugary, good flavor; first; Sept.